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Liam Dowling's De Lahdedah still a leading contender as English Derby reaches third round

Liam Dowling's De Lahdedah still a leading contender as English Derby reaches third round

The Graham Holland-trained Bockos Diamond continues to be the long-odds favourite at 3/1 and the Tralee/ Abbeydorney syndicate dog, Cheap Sandwiches, which is also trained by Holland, has shortened to 11/2 (all odds from Paddy Power).
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Lisselton trainer Jack Kennelly pulled off a marvellous victory with Sogna Ancora in the final of the €5,000-to-the-winner Islandbridge Open 350 Sweepstake at Shelbourne Park last Friday night.
Housed in trap 3 and a very generous 3/1 shot in the betting, it was the pluckiest of victories by the September '23 son of Grangeview Ten and Terezas Mendoza, which is owned by the Swedish House Party Syndicate headed up by Jackie Hegarty.
Sogna Ancora won by a length and a half from the Limerick-owned Stonepark Browne in 18.55 (.10 fast) and particularly impressive was the fact that he was making it six wins from six career starts.
Some sprint machine this fellow.
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It was back in August 2021 that Millridge Willow won the Rose Of Tralee Sweepstake at Tralee Track for Caoimhe Maria O'Mahony, of Millstreet, and, running her 116th race, it was quite something by her to open proceedings at last week's Tuesday SIS meeting at the Oakview venue by winning an A3 525 in 29.15. In doing so, she was bringing her career earnings to a very impressive €11,575.
Fastest winner, on 28.98 in an A2 525, was Toremore Fortune, jointly owned by Ann O'Neill and Timothy McCarthy, of Ballyhar, while the other winners were: Fire Height Diaz, 29.58; Manhattan Sally, 30.00; Tokenfire Glory, 29.97; Missy Lady, 29.65; Muingwee Kid, 29.70; Rathorpe Ash, 29.39; Outer Banks, 29.35; Hawthorn News, 29.30; Riverfield Best, 29.20; Loher Mabey, 29.25.
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Tralee Track readily facilitates benefit meetings, with a gain for everybody on those nights, and those involved at the organisational end will be ensuring the financial success of a benefit meeting for Kilfynn National School this Friday night.

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If we want free-flowing hurling we must accept the refereeing that facilitates it
If we want free-flowing hurling we must accept the refereeing that facilitates it

Irish Times

time5 hours ago

  • Irish Times

If we want free-flowing hurling we must accept the refereeing that facilitates it

On the raised television gantry at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night, Alan Connolly leant on the barrier, while on the pitch behind him Cork fans belted out a chorus of 'After All'. When he turned around to take in the scene below, the decibel levels rose. Liam Sheedy, Donal Óg Cusack and Henry Shefflin were all standing beside him. Hurling royalty. But for those draped in red and white below it was clear that Connolly was the star attraction. Such was the level of the noise, Shefflin had to lean over at one stage to repeat his question to the Cork forward. During the entire interview Connolly – still in full gear and boots – carried the chilled-out disposition of a man who had just perched himself at a poolside bar in their flip-flops. There were the usual questions about the game and then host Joanne Cantwell interjected: 'Can I ask, when there was a change in referee – because Thomas Walsh referees a very particular way, and James Owens referees a very different way – what was it like?' READ MORE Connolly smiled apologetically, seemingly recalling the sight of Walsh requiring treatment on the pitch for cramp. 'It was funny, I hope he's all right,' he said before wondering if it had ever happened before where a referee had to leave the field. Informed that it had indeed, he continued: 'It was interesting, they reffed the game the same enough I thought, to be honest. There wasn't too much of a change, I don't know.' Plenty of others seemed to know. A quick scroll through social media on Saturday night would have demonstrated one of the main talking points from a gripping Munster final was the performance of the referee. Walsh was lauded by many for letting the game flow, his approach credited with contributing to the match, but for others the officiating facilitated a level of lawlessness that went too far. It quickly became a Marmite debate. A couple of days on and still many conversations about the game eventually arrive at the referee. Cork's Alan Connolly has his helmet tugged by Limerick's Diarmaid Byrnes. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Strip it all back and it leaves one very straightforward yet complex question about hurling: What game do we actually want? For those of us currently in a space where we spend many Saturday mornings ferrying kids to Go Games, hurling can seem a very different sport at either end of the chain. But children learn the game not only because of their coaches, they also learn from the referees they encounter. The referees at Go Games are predominately teenagers who have been persuaded to take up the whistle. Many of them spend a lot of their time during matches patiently instructing seven- and eight-year-olds on what to do next. They'll give the goalkeeper a second chance at puck-outs, or on spotting repeated fresh air shots the referee might encourage the young player to hit the ball along the ground instead. When it comes to juvenile sport, both the coaches and referees are heroes. But retaining referees is an ongoing problem for the GAA. Earlier this year Dublin GAA arranged a training course to try attract new referees to deal with a 'chronic shortage' of officials. Gaelic football and hurling are different sports but they share a common indistinctness in terms of some playing rules. Hurling, in particular, can exist in different forms depending on whether the referee wants to swallow their whistle or blow it. So, what game do we want? At the start of each half last Saturday, Walsh held the sliotar in his hand while a pair of opposing midfielders locked horns in that perpetual dance of bouncing off each other and snarling like a pair of bucking bulls released from their pen for the first time in months. Limerick's Shane O'Brien celebrates winning a free. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho As their shoulder-fest found its rhythm, the intensity spread across the pitch and several little replica dances sparked off. The roars from the stands increased, the Gaelic Grounds becoming a sporting tinderbox. The atmosphere, electric. In those few seconds at the start of each half, the terms of engagement were being set. If the referee was allowing those battles to fester, the players had a fair idea that a decent level of aggression would go unpunished. And so it played out. There were fouls not blown, flaking ignored, players got away with stuff. Both management teams then surrounded the referee at half-time – presumably to check if perhaps he could arrange it that only their lads would be allowed do the flaking. One of the positive outcomes of the FRC's new rules in football has been a greater level of respect towards match officials. Gaelic football referees at club and county level have seen a significant decrease in verbal abuse. And yet another of the FRC's rules has been to have a one v one throw-in at the start of each half. Instead, you now have two players standing on opposite sidelines and then dashing in when the ball is tossed in the air. For all the progressive FRC changes, the start of Gaelic football matches has lost something. It's lost that edge of physicality and aggression. But perhaps that is the game we are trying to manufacture now in football? Are we saying we don't want those displays of hostility at the outset of matches? Are we saying we want a game where players hand the ball back to their opponent? That, of course, is football's journey of discovery right now. But those are the kind of questions hurling might eventually have to answer too. As a sporting contest, what the Cork and Limerick players served up on Saturday was captivating. It was a game full of endeavour and desire, two tribes going full-blooded to represent their people. You couldn't take your eyes off it. They deserve great credit for producing such entertainment and drama, but at the same time those matches are also almost impossible to referee. If we can at least agree on that, perhaps we're not far away from having the game we want.

Cork's All-Ireland SHC semi-final set for early Saturday evening throw-in
Cork's All-Ireland SHC semi-final set for early Saturday evening throw-in

Irish Examiner

time5 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Cork's All-Ireland SHC semi-final set for early Saturday evening throw-in

Cork's All-Ireland SHC semi-final in Croke Park is expected to have a 5pm throw-in on Saturday, July 5. Broadcasters RTÉ have the Munster winners's game slotted in for an early evening start at the beginning of next month with the second semi-final involving Kilkenny the following afternoon expected to begin at 4pm. Matching their provincial final day, Cork will return to action 28 days after they lifted the Mick Mackey Cup in TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday after beating Limerick on a penalty shoot-out. It will be preceded by an All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final at GAA HQ. Another camogie quarter-final clash will be the curtain-raiser to the Cats's semi-final fixture. As per championship regulations, Cork can't meet Limerick in a semi-final so their potential opponents are Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Laois or Tipperary just as Kilkenny can't duel with Galway at that stage, so they will face one of Dublin, Kildare, Limerick or Tipperary. After provincial finals, repeat pairings in early provincial fixtures are avoided where feasible in the last four.

Tributes paid following death of Ireland star's ‘beloved' mum as Shelbourne promise to ‘do everything we can to support'
Tributes paid following death of Ireland star's ‘beloved' mum as Shelbourne promise to ‘do everything we can to support'

The Irish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Tributes paid following death of Ireland star's ‘beloved' mum as Shelbourne promise to ‘do everything we can to support'

SHELBOURNE have led tributes following the sad death of Aoibheann Clancy's mum. Siobhan Clancy sadly died on Monday, and was described as a "loving wife, utterly devoted mother and sister" in her Advertisement 2 Aoibheann Clancy's mum has died Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Condolences flooded in for the family of the Republic of Ireland international, third from left Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Taking to Shels said: "All at "Everyone at Tolka sends their heartfelt condolences to Aoibheann and her family . "The club will do everything we can to support her at this incredibly difficult time. Advertisement Read More on Ireland WNT "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis." Aoibheann Clancy is one of the brightest talents in the Women 's National League, having previously played for Wexford posted: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Siobhán Clancy, beloved mother of our former player Aoibheann. "Our deepest condolences to Padraig, Caoimhe, Sean, Aoibheann, extended family and friends. Advertisement Most read in Football "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis" A prodigious youth international, the Limerick-native made her senior 'You can't make this up' - Irish fans in stitches at Ruesha Littlejohn's playful prank upon Katie McCabe's camp arrival Despite missing the cut for the summer , the midfielder has been incorporated into several squads by Carla Ward. Offering their condolences in the wake of her mum's death, the Advertisement "Our heartfelt condolences go out to Aoibheann and her family during this heartbreaking time. "We will do everything possible to support her through this incredibly difficult period." Aoibheann's local "Ar dheis de go raibh ar a ainm dilis." Advertisement Fans elsewhere took the time to offer their condolences, with one saying: "Sorry to hear of your loss @aoibheannclancy thinking of you and your family at this time" A second said: "Such incredibly sad news . Siobhan was such a remarkable lady and her loss is immense to her family, friends and all who knew her. "I feel blessed to have known her. Thinking of Padraig, Caoimhe, Séan, Aoibheann and the extended family. Rest easy Siobhan" A third posted: "Rest in Peace Siobhan, thinking of all the Clancy and of course Aoibheann at this very sad time." Advertisement And a fourth added: "So very sorry to hear of this , sending condolences to Aoibheann and her family ." Funeral details have not yet been announced.

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